The role of decidual natural killer cell‐derived soluble factors in early pregnancy

Abstract

Decidual natural killer cells (dNK), the predominant decidual lymphocytes in early pregnancy, are primarily identified based on their CD56bright CD16− phenotype and play an important role in maintaining immune tolerance at the maternal–fetal interface. dNK dysfunction reportedly leads to pathological pregnancy. Indeed, various dNK‐derived soluble factors are involved in a series of key processes related to pregnancy outcomes. In this review, we summarize the roles of these dNK‐derived factors in immune tolerance and embryonic development to improve the current understanding regarding the physiological and pathological mechanisms that occur during pregnancy, while potentially informing the development of effective therapeutics.

In vivo expansion of a CD9+ decidual-like NK cell subset following autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

“…For example, dNK cells secrete IL-8 and interferon-inducible protein 10, which, upon binding to their receptors expressed on the trophoblast, regulate its invasion. Moreover, dNK cells secrete angiogenic growth factors, such as VEGF and PLGF, which promote vascular remodeling ( Jabrane-Ferrat, 2019 ; Zhang et al., 2021 ). Although they display abundant cytolytic granules ( Koopman et al., 2003 ), dNK cells present low cytotoxic effect toward the K562 cell line ( King et al., 1996 ) and failed to polarize their microtubules organizing centers and cytotoxic granules to the immunological synapse ( Kopcow et al., 2005 ).…”